U.S. soldiers visit the remains of the ROKS Cheonan at 2nd Fleet Command headquarters in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, March 7, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
The ROKS Cheonan Memorial is a must-see site near Osan Air Base and Camp Humphreys that honors 46 South Korean navy sailors who perished 14 years ago when their ship sank after an attack in the Yellow Sea.
A North Korean torpedo is believed to have struck the corvette, and the resulting explosion split the vessel in two. Nearly half its crew of 104 perished when it sank.
The ship’s stern was raised a month after the attack.
The ROKS Cheonan Memorial is at 2nd Fleet Command headquarters in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
In January, Cmdr. Park Yeon-soo, who as a young navy lieutenant survived the sinking, took command of a Daegu-class corvette, also called the Cheonan, promising to remember the “46 warriors” of its namesake.
Located at 2nd Fleet Command headquarters in Pyeongtaek, the tour begins with a series of videos explaining the history behind the memorial and its significance to the South Korean people.
A guide shows visitors to a hall where artifacts and miniatures provide further detail and context about the event. The artifacts include weapon systems pulled from the ship and sections of the vessel.
U.S. soldiers visit the remains of the ROKS Cheonan at 2nd Fleet Command headquarters in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, March 7, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
The tour then takes you underneath what remains of the Cheonan. Sight of the damage really puts into perspective the massive destructive power of the torpedo.
The guide then takes visitors to Cheonan Memorial Hall for a self-guided tour. There, visitors are met with a replica of the Cheonan ship’s flag.
Throughout the memorial hall are rooms built to re-create the interior of the Cheonan, including the engine room, bunks and radar control room.
The fallen ROKS Cheonan sailors’ ID tags and names are displayed inside a memorial at 2nd Fleet Command headquarters n Pyeongtaek, South Korea. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
The fallen ROKS Cheonan sailors’ ID tags and names are displayed inside a memorial at 2nd Fleet Command headquarters n Pyeongtaek, South Korea. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
The Floral Tribute Table brings the entire experience into perspective. The lost sailors’ ID tags are suspended from the ceiling and their names are displayed on a wall beneath the tags.
The Cheonan Memorial is a moving tribute to these sailors’ sacrifice. A visit requires a reservation for one of three time slots at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. or 3 p.m.
On the QT
Directions: A short drive from Camp Humphreys or Osan Air Base. Gyeonggi-do, Pyeongtaek-si, Poseung-eup, 2hamdae-gil, 122 KR
Times: Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday.
Costs: Free, but reservations are required.
Food: None at the memorial.
Information: Phone: 031-685-4123; Online: navy.mil.kr
